Dudleya virens aka Bright Green Dudleya

Dudleya virens, or green liveforever, belongs to the stonecrop family, Crassulaceae. This perennial succulent grows along the southern California coast. Its range includes the Channel Islands and Mexico’s Guadalupe Island. LLIFLE also lists the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It grows on rocky slopes and cliffs near the sea. Kew classes its native climate as subtropical.

The plant branches to form cushions of close-packed leaf rosettes. These clumps can span at least 1.3 feet [0.4 metres]. Each rosette spans about 0.16–0.33 feet [0.05–0.10 metres]. Some reach 0.82 feet [0.25 metres] across. Thick stems grow upright at first, then lie down. They can reach 3.3 feet [1 metre] long. These stem lengths do not show the plant’s garden height. A stem may bear 100 or more branches.

The fleshy leaves range from flat straps to near-cylindrical shapes. Most measure 0.26–0.66 feet [0.08–0.20 metres] long. The largest reach 0.82 feet [0.25 metres]. Their colour ranges from green to grey or whitish. Some leaves have red tips or a pale, powdery coat. Their surfaces lack stickiness and an oily feel. Red flower stalks carry leaves and branched clusters called cymes. Most stalks reach 0.66–1.48 feet [0.20–0.45 metres] long. Exceptional stalks reach 2.3 feet [0.70 metres].

Flowers open from April through June and have a scent. Their five petals spread outward from near the middle. The petals are white, sometimes with red marks that look pink. Some petal tips bend back a little. Hummingbirds visit the blooms to feed on nectar. The fruits are follicles that point upward at an angle. The flowers and dense rosettes give the plant its garden value.

LLIFLE describes slow growth and use as small-scale ground cover. It suits places with mild winters and dry summers. It can also grow in pots, homes, or conservatories. Plants stay smaller in containers than in open ground. Sandy or gravelly soil with very free drainage suits it best. LLIFLE also reports tolerance of heavy garden soil. Its cultivation notes stress dry summers and cool, moist winters. They warn that trapped water can cause rot. The supplied evidence does not establish species-specific frost limits. It also gives no firm food-use or toxicity assessment.